Avnish Kumar

Avnish Kumar started his journey into retail at an early age, joining his parents in the Neeru’s business, which came into its own in the year 1971, offering tailoring and embroidery of superior and intricate women’s apparel in Hyderabad.

As Director, Kumar has taken Neeru’s to an altogether higher growth trajectory through his marketing and operational initiatives at the firm. He directly manages the sarees, silks and the menswear departments at the chain.

After completing his graduation from Hyderabad and a Post Graduation-Masters in Entrepreneurship from Royal Holloway, University of London, UK, Kumar has a different plan for retail in the ethnic industry and rates his practical knowledge more than his education.

As an achievement, along with promoter Rajiv Kumar, he launched his dream store, NEERU’S EMPORIO, a palatial 30,000 sqft outlet located in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. The plush interiors of the store house a wide mix and choice of products, including lehengas, sarees, silks, suits, mix & match, accessories, men’s ethnics and kidswear. The store is technologically advanced with iPads as catalogues, video walls, LED screens and a lot more for a modern-day customer.

Neeru’s was chosen as a nominee for the World Retail Awards, held in Paris. The store has also gained the Most Admired Brand by the Council of Trade and Development of India and also The Most Admired Retail Launch of the Year at IMAGES Retail Awards 2012.

For Kumar, the biggest professional challenges are many. “Challenges in retail erupt every minute/ hour/ day. Being a retailer, we pull up our socks every morning,” he says.

According to this second-generation entrepreneur, his key professional accomplishments so far have been picking up franchise route for expansion in India, and introducing a menswear label in 2013 for the hitherto womenswear-only chain.